FAO will support Palau with technical assistance to address the challenges posed by the 2015/2016 El Niño cycle, which has resulted in a global crisis adversely affecting agriculture and the food security and nutritional status of more than 60 million people.

In Palau, significant losses to crops have been reported. All farm irrigation activities are currently suspended due to low levels of reservoir water and state of emergency has been declared as ten of 16 states have been affected by drought.

The Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) is looking to lift water restrictions after rains in the past weeks help alleviate drought conditions across Palau.

According to the new water-rationing schedule released this morning, waters hours will be from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and because Ngerikiil is in a much better shape to supply water, there is a possibility of resuming 24-hour water service this weekend.

On March 14, the water company implemented water hours after the water reservoirs water levels decreased to a critical level.

On Friday, April 1, the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency relief goods (water containers and water bladders etc.) to the Republic of Palau through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in response to the request from the Government of the Republic of Palau following serious damage from the drought in the country.

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- About 800 miles southwest of Guam lies a collection of small islands that make up the nation of Palau. With little contact to the outside world, approximately 18,000 residents live a life nearly untouched by time. Most Palauans live without running water and air conditioning, a considerable feat with a hot and humid climate.

Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) Department for Humanitarian Disarmament is pleased to announce the commencement of a new country programme in Palau, in the western Pacific.

On 6th August, Minister of State for Palau, Mr. Billy Kuartei, and Acting project manager for NPA, Mr Ulric Eriksson, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, during a signing ceremony outside Palau National Museum. The ceremony was attended by representatives from across various government ministries.

The process to develop the Palau Climate Change Policy and Action Plan for climate and disaster resilient low emission development, is gaining momentum and overwhelming support after being tabled at two meetings in March 2015.

10 April 2015 - What is the true cost of a disaster in human and economic terms? Once we know, what can we do to support the recovery of affected people? These are the questions to be considered next week by a group of 25 participants as they complete Palau’s first national training course in Post Disaster Needs Assessment, as part of Palau’s preparations for the forthcoming typhoon season.

The first Palau-Tonga exchange to share lessons learnt about coastal protection measures began this week.

The exchange involves a seven-member delegation of legislators and government officials from the Republic of Palau, including densely populated Koror State, visiting Tonga to learn about methods to enhance the resilience to climate change of coastal communities in eastern Tongatapu.